Fatal crash claims man’s life

Delaware state troopers are investigating a fatal pedestrian crash which occurred Saturday around 1:16 a.m. on Interstate 495 northbound killing a 47-year-old male, according to a press release from the Delaware State Police, who responded to the scene.

Duane Haines, 48, of Perryville Md., was traveling northbound in the center lane of I-495 driving a 2009 Peterbilt truck with a tanker trailer attached when he hit John Davis, a pedestrian who was standing in the roadway wearing dark colors who he was unable to see, according to the police report. Haines struck Davis who landed in the center lane of I-495 and was then struck by a 2013 Honda Accord driven by Douglas Kenney, 54, from Wyantskill, N.Y., who failed to see the victim lying in the road.

Both drivers were able to come to a stop and direct traffic around the crash until police officers arrived. Davis was pronounced dead at the scene and Haines and Kenney were not injured in the crash. 

Police spokesman Cpl. John Day said the case is still under investigation and no charges were pressed again Haines and Kenney. 

“We have not determined why he was on the driveway,” Day said. “Investigators have found no reason for him to be up there, he was not related to any cars on the driveway and he didn’t seem to have any purpose to be up there.”

I-495 northbound was closed for approximately three hours while the crash was investigated.